Claw hammer with extensible fulcrum



March 1952 H. H. BROWN ETAL CLAW HAMMER WITH EXTENSIBLE FULCRUM Filed July 5, 1949 M 4 m 0 0.. 1 x A .I x %2 M m M 5 m M 9 1F- 4 B e 4 V 2/ M 5 W y m M 8 2 2 m W Q 8 M 3 4 W 4 2 v 2 m m F a w w 3M3 3w \l. \\\11 \T 7 Q s .1 A 2 6 |Y3 2 2 2 4 m w Patented Mar. 11, 1952 CLAW HAMMER WITH EXTENSIBLE FULCRUM Harvey H. Brown and Bert Ned Reed, Mountain City, Nev., assignors to Nailmaster, Inc., a corporation of Nevada Application July 5, 1949, Serial N 0. 103,146

. 4 Claims. (01. 25426) This invention relates generally to hammers and more particularly to a claw hammer havin 'an' extensible fulcrummember manually extended when desired by the user and normally biased into retract'ed position flush with the exterior surface of the hammer head.

A primaryobject-of this invention is to provide a fulcrum member which may be extended whenever necessary to facilitate the drawing of longer nails after such longer nails have-been partially extracted.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hammer having a head with claws for engaging the head of a nail, an extensible fulcrum member and means for securing a handle in the head, the parts of the head being so arranged and designed to facilitate assembly'aswell as use of the hammer. a

Another object of this invention is to provide a hammer head which has an extensible fulcrum member but which can be used in the normal manner with the fulcrum member fully retracted and in no way interfering with such normal use. -And a last object to be mentioned specifically is to provide a device for the mentioned character which is relatively inexpensive and completely practicable to manufacture, which is safe, simple and convenient to use, and which will give generally efiicient and durable service.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of con struct'ion, combination and arrangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a hammer with this invention operatively applied therein, portions of the handle and head being broken away to facilitate the illustration of the construction thereof, the fulcrum member and associated parts being shown in dash line in a second position, this second position being that in which the fulcrum member is extended for use;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially upon the line 2-2 in Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged three dimensional view of the fulcrum member including a portion of the shank thereof;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view, on a reduced scale, showing a hammer head with this invention operatively applied therein and a portion of the hammer handle, portions of the fulcrum member being broken away to facilitate the illustration of the form of recess inthe head used to accommodate the fulcrum member when in retracted position; and

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the claw hammer with the fulcrum extended, the figure being designed to show how the invention is used.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the different views in the drawing. v

Referring now to the drawing in detail, this claw hammer includes a head [0 having. a handle receiving socket 12, to receive the hammer handle I6.

The hammer head is provided with a fulcrum member, generally indicated at '24 and comprised of an end portion 26, and lateral arms 28, the general configuration of the fulcrum member bein U-shaped, the end member 26 being rounded on its outer surface and extending beyond the corresponding edges of the arms 28 both on the sides thereof parallel the arms and at the ends 30. A recess is formed in the head to accommodate the fulcrum member 24, and it should be carefully noted that this recess has portions indicated at 32 to accommodate the end member 26 with its extending end portions 36, this end recess 32 being continued into two lateral recesses 34 on the sides of the head ID, the lateral recesses being dimensioned to receive the lateral arms 28 of the fulcrum member when the same is in retracted position.

A centrally disposed shank 36 is integrally secured to the inner surface of the end portion 26 of the fulcrum member, and this shank has a helical spring 38 associated coaxially therewith and compressed between a wall 46 positioned between the handle receiving socket l2 and the above described recess in the head and a nut threaded as indicated at 42 on the end of the shank 36 remote from the end portion 26. The handle will be provided with a bore 44 to receive the shank 36, spring 38 and nut 42, and the wall 40 will, of course, be apertured as indicated at 46, to allow the shankto pass therethrou h without undue friction.

In order to provide a simple and effective fulcrum construction, the head has been designed with special means for securing the end l4 of the handle therein. This special means utilizes some the end l4 of description of the mechanical details thereof taken in connection with thedrawing andthe above recitation of the objectsof this-invention. In recapitulation, it may be further noted'that when a nail such as that:.indicated.;.at 50.;has

been partially withdrawn, the fulcrumi'member.

24 can be extended manually by pulling the same outwardly against the action. of the a spring. 38 and rotating the fulcrum member through'90 about the shank 36 as axis and allowing. the :lateral arms 28 to seat onto the head with the said arms in terminal. engagement. with; portions. of -:the .head: extending;transversely thereof fbetween .the:1ateralrecesses'34. ;When' the; nail has-been withdrawn and it is :desired .to :again; use the hammer .in ,the' ordinary manner; the: fulcrum member 24 is: rotated in .either. directionzthrough 90 and the spring 38 is-allowedto:-retract the fulcrum member.

'It' will be clearithat all ofthe. objects recited ".above are amply achieved by this: invention, and

further description would appear unnecessary.

l Minor variation from: the :embodiment: disclosed ';:in;the drawingmay beresorted' towithoutideparture from the spirit ofithis invention.

Having describedlthe .invention-,zwhatis claimed 'as new is:

. .11. A'claw hammerrhavingzahead .an'dLaihandle,

one end of said handle having::a:bore,-isaid head having a socket on one side thereof toreceive. said :oneiend' and. amend. recess in. thezheadi on: one :-side thereof opposite said socket;'.saidhead1having an .aperturedcwall -between said-recess and: said :socket, cuneifornrzmembers onsaidrwallrhaving the'sharpened ends extending into: said socket to spread said: end of: the handle intoftight engagement with the/head, a.fulcrum'imember'rhaving I a portion thereof seated in retracted position in :said recess and havingza shank extending through said aperture in said wall into said bore, retaining means for said fulcrum member in an alternative extended position, and means to bias said shank and fulcrum member into retracted 5 position.

2. A hammer according to claim 1 and wherein said last mentioned imeans is tza 'TCOfiBd spring arranged coaxially of saidfshank within said bore and compressed between said wall and a portion of said shank. I

. .3- .A hammer according to claim 1 and wherein :said'headhas-lateral recesses extending into said end recess, said fulcrum member being rotatable .wabout its; longitudinal shank axis having lateral armsseated ins. said lateral recesses when the fulcrum member .is in retracted position; said -.retaining .means comprising said lateral 1 arms which terminally engage the head when the ful =crum member is withdrawn and rotated through 20 ninety degrees into said extended position.

;14.;;A;.claw hammerhavinga head and a;handle, zone. end. of said .handle :having; a bore; said" head -:having a .-'SOCket'T on I one side thereof to. receive one .iend 1-and-:an; end; recess in. the; .head. :on: the :side'thereof opposite said socket; saidheadhaving an apertured :wall between. said recess" and: said =socket,a fulcrum member having a portion thereof; seated in retracted-positionin said-recess and :havinga: shank extending through said aperture 30 inysaid wall 'into'isaid bore, retaining: means for said fulcrum in an alternative:extendedposition, .andimeans' to bias said; shank and fulcrum rmembertin'to retracted position.

M HARVEY .;H. ;.-BROWN.

BERTiNED .REED

.. REFERENCES -.CITE-D The followingreferences are ofrecord in 'the 'file' or this-patent: 

